Written Answers

Thursday 30 March 2000

Scottish Executive

Agri-Environment Schemes

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to remove or increase the ceiling on agri-environment schemes to bring Scotland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Mr John Home Robertson: We have no plans to remove ceilings on agri-environment scheme payments. Payment ceilings are intended to ensure an equitable spread of finite resources, and are kept under regular review.

  Increases for some Environmentally Sensitive Areas are planned for later this year, and the ceiling planned for the new Rural Stewardship Scheme will be set at a higher level than currently operating in the Countryside Premium Scheme.

Agriculture

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many successful applications for support under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme, as set out by Lord Sewel in March 1999, there have been in each parliamentary constituency and what is the total value of these applications in each constituency.

Ross Finnie: Details of the number of successful Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) applications are not readily available by parliamentary constituency. The information is held on an agricultural parish and Departmental Area Office basis, and is summarised below.

  





No of Approvals

  

Approved Grant (£)

  



Shetland

  

 72

  

340,990.99

  



Orkney

  

 1,466

  

3,684,295.22

  



Northern

  

 981

  

2,676,580.30

  



Highland (mainland)

  

 1,164

  

4,507,743.33

  



Skye

  

 36

  

262,153.60

  



Western Isles

  

 3

  

4,812.97

  



Grampian

  

 353

  

702,510.13

  



Argyll & Islands

  

 982

  

3,183,891.90

  



Arran, Bute & Cumbrae

  

 270

  

941,893.51

  



Totals

  

 5,327

  

16,304,871.95

Biodiversity

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to maintaining the existing bio-diversity within Scotland’s countryside.

Sarah Boyack: Yes. The Scottish Executive is responsible for the implementation in Scotland of the UK obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. There are 275 Species Action Plans and 32 Habitat Action Plans in place which are relevant to Scotland. All Scottish local authorities have also been encouraged to develop Local Biodiversity Action Plans, which aim to deliver conservation of both nationally and locally important biodiversity.

Body Piercing

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a minimum age restriction on ear and body piercing, in line with restrictions on tattooing.

Susan Deacon: The Executive intends to issue a consultation paper seeking views on the need or otherwise for controls over skin piercing in all its forms, including tattooing.

Boharm School

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its decision on the future of Boharm School.

Peter Peacock: We shall announce our decision as soon as possible after we have completed the careful consideration which any proposal to close a school requires.

Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget

Allan Wilson (Cunninghame North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s budget will have on employment, enterprise and economic growth in Scotland.

Henry McLeish: The Chancellor announced a wide range of measures which are intended to boost employment, enterprise and economic growth in both Scotland and the UK as a whole. These measures will build on the recent strong performance of the Scottish Economy.

Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s budget announcement regarding the New Deal Programme will have on the number of long-term unemployed people in Scotland.

Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal.

  In his budget, the Chancellor announced a comprehensive set of measures aimed at helping all long term unemployed people aged over 25, coming into effect from April 2001.

  Throughout the UK as a whole it is envisaged that 145,000, 150,000 and 120,000 people will be helped over the three years 2001-02 – 2003-04 respectively. In Scotland, there are currently 17,500 adults aged 25 or over and unemployed for 18 months or longer.

Civic Forum

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the current status, funding and role of the Civic Forum and when it expects it to become fully operational.

Mr Jack McConnell: I hope to make a statement to the Parliament on civic participation, including the Civic Forum, shortly after the forthcoming recess.

Countryside Premium Scheme

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why no applications from Dumfries and Galloway to the Countryside Premium Scheme were successful in 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

Ross Finnie: In fact, 41 Countryside Premium Scheme applications from Dumfries and Galloway were successful in the 1998 application round and 10 in 1999.

Countryside Premium Scheme

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to distribute funding under the Countryside Premium Scheme on a regional basis.

Ross Finnie: No. Funding under the Countryside Premium Scheme is allocated to those applications likely to deliver the greatest conservation benefit.

Crofting

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend to all tenant farmers within the crofting counties the rights available to crofters under (a) the present crofting legislation and (b) crofting legislation under consideration.

Ross Finnie: No. As I announced in reply to Mike Watson on 19 November, I have closely examined the pros and cons of various proposals for tenant farmer right to buy and came to the conclusion that none are the right way forward.

  Specifically, I am not persuaded that the crofter right to buy and the other benefits of crofting tenure should be extended to all tenant farmers in the crofting counties. The substantial costs of this, and in particular the cost of compensation to landlords, are a major factor in that decision.

E-Commerce

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3829 by Henry McLeish on 23 February 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the responsibilities, job titles and location of the 72 staff identified as engaged in promoting and supporting e-commerce.

Henry McLeish: 29 deal with business processes such as modernising the Executive's procurement approach and piloting an important livestock support scheme to enable farmers to submit subsidy claims to the Department electronically; 27 are engaged in improving public services delivery, as in education services and the General Register for Scotland in connection with electronic access by the public to the indexes of certain records; eight are involved in the promotion and support of information and communication technologies (ICT), including policy work on business take-up and social inclusion. A further eight staff are engaged in activities which cut across these three areas, such as the work of the Digital Scotland team.

Education

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish pupils have a school-provided e-mail address and what proportion of the primary and secondary school populations respectively these figures represent.

Peter Peacock: The target is for all pupils to have access to e-mail. At the last formal survey in October 1999, 1% of primary pupils and 7% of secondary pupils had their own, school-provided, e-mail addresses. This represents an early stage in the development of the National Grid for Learning, particularly in primary schools, and we know that the situation is changing all the time. For example, since October 1999 Edinburgh has completed its network, giving 50,000 pupils and 3,000 teachers access to e-mail and Internet services.

Education

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is taking steps to establish IT literacy targets for teachers in Scottish schools.

Peter Peacock: Detailed ICT literacy targets for Scottish teachers were published in March 1999 as part of the Scottish programme of ICT training funded by the New Opportunities Fund. These targets also formed the basis of guidance on ICT in initial teacher education from September 1999.

Employment

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts have been and will be made to attract employment to Kinlochleven.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: When Alcan announced in 1994 that the aluminium smelter at Kinlochleven would close by 2000, the Kinlochleven Working Group was established (subsequently known as the Kinlochleven Implementation Team). The group comprised all the relevant agencies and the community and produced the strategy for the regeneration of the village.

  To implement this strategy the Kinlochleven Land Development Trust (KLDT) was formed in 1995-96. The trust is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status which has taken over lease of the land from Alcan.

  To date the KLDT has spent £3.5 million on a number of Phase One regeneration plans for the village. This includes the decontamination of the bunker buildings, the establishment of four business pavilions, the undertaking of environmental renewal work and the implementation of the footpath training scheme. Furthermore, approximately thirty full time jobs have been created between the opening of Database Direct’s distributed call centre and the new bunkhouse.

  The proposals for Phase Two are still at an early stage. KLDT has met on several occasions with Alcan employees and the Community Council to review the Phase Two plans. Market research is being carried out by Lochaber Limited/Highlands and Islands Enterprise for KLDT on the viability of the proposals.

Employment

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the proposals or plans of the Kinlochleven Land Development Trust it supports and which it opposes, and what impact the plans will have in providing new employment for those who may be made redundant from British Alcan.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: I refer Mr Ewing to my answer to question S1W-5404. The projects being undertaken by the Kinlochleven Land Development Trust (KLDT) are an operational matter for the Trust, the community and for those agencies which are providing financial support for the regeneration programme, and do not require the approval of the Scottish Executive.

  The significant regeneration activity taking place in Kinlochleven by the KLDT is being carried out with a view to creating more jobs for the sake of the future viability of the village.

Engineering Industry

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to the engineering industry.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive provides support to the engineering sector through a wide variety of general schemes and programmes for industry, administered through the Executive and the Enterprise Network. These support investment and job creation by companies in new projects. Support is also provided for innovation in developing new products and processes. I also refer Mr Gibson to question S1W-4864 in the Official Report of 2 March, which announced the publication of Created in Scotland – the Way Forward for Scottish Manufacturing in the 21st Century . This outlines our strong commitment to support the manufacturing sector through a variety of initiatives.

Fisheries

Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which agency or public body is responsible for the protection of wild sea trout and salmon stocks and what action it and the relevant agency or body is taking to reverse the decline of wild sea trout and salmon stocks in Scotland.

Mr John Home Robertson: Day-to-day management of salmonid stocks is the responsibility of District Salmon Fishery Boards under the Salmon Act 1986. The Scottish Executive has power to legislate and make regulations concerning fish and fisheries in Scotland.

  There is general recognition that stocks of salmonid are in a worrying state throughout their North Atlantic range. In Scotland this has led to many boards and proprietors introducing catch and release policies; to boards seeking and obtaining from the Scottish Executive powers to prohibit certain types of baits and lures; and to the Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland proposing to its members a postponement of the start of this year’s season.

  The Scottish Executive is continuing to monitor the situation closely and to encourage the urgent adoption of appropriate measures to reduce exploitation.

Food Labelling

Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1588 by Ross Finnie on 28 September 1999, whether it will report on the progress being made in developing the Scottish Pork Quality Mark.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Pork Mark is now established and is being successfully used to promote the quality of Scottish-produced pig meat products.

Health

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health last met Greater Glasgow Health Board and what matters were discussed.

Susan Deacon: I meet with representatives of Greater Glasgow Health Board on a regular basis when a range of health matters are discussed.

Holyrood

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the discussions it has had with the City Of Edinburgh Council about the impact of the Holyrood Project on traffic and the source of funding for any road realignments required as a result of the project.

Sarah Boyack: Scottish Executive officials have had regular meetings with the City of Edinburgh Council about traffic and road realignment as a consequence of the development of the Parliament at Holyrood.

Housing

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to assist local authorities and owner-occupiers to tackle disrepair of older tenement properties.

Mr Frank McAveety: The improvement and repairs grant system will be reformed by introducing a test of resources to decide the amount of grant. Assistance will be available at rates up to 100% for households on the lowest incomes. All those taking part in common repairs will receive at least a minimum percentage grant. These reforms will help local authorities promote necessary works and encourage owner-occupiers to carry them out.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many private sector homes are classified as being below tolerable standard in each local authority area for the last four years for which figures are available and what this number represents as a percentage of private sector homes in each area.

Ms Wendy Alexander: There are two sources of estimates of the number of dwellings below tolerable standard (BTS) in Scotland. The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) provides a national estimate (generally every five years) – the latest of which, for 1996, gave an estimate of 27,000 BTS dwellings in Scotland. The SHCS estimate cannot be broken down by local authority area; however local authorities themselves produce annual estimates of the number of BTS dwellings in their areas – although the amalgamation of these estimates for 1996 was very different, at 84,000, from the SHCS estimate for that year.

  The following table presents local authorities’ estimates of the number of below tolerable standard (BTS) dwellings in the private sector in their areas in each of the last four years. Some authorities are not able to provide a full tenure breakdown of their BTS dwelling estimate; the table below, therefore, also gives each authority’s estimate of the total number of BTS dwellings in their area and the number for which the tenure was not known. Information on the total number of private sector dwellings in each local authority in these years is not held centrally.

  Estimated Number of Dwellings Below the Tolerable Standard: (Private Sector) 1996 to 1999

  





1996

  

1997

  

1998

  

1999

  



Local 

  Authority

  

Private 

  Sector

  

Tenure 

  not known

  

Total 

  BTS

  

Private 

  Sector

  

Tenure 

  not known

  

Total 

  BTS

  

Private 

  Sector

  

Tenure 

  not known

  

Total 

  BTS

  

Private 

  Sector

  

Tenure 

  not known

  

Total 

  BTS

  



Scotland

  

40,797

  

25,381

  

84,048

  

57,469

  

4,552

  

78,264

  

50,351

  

7,328

  

73,575

  

52,816

  

2,478

  

69,792

  












































Aberdeen 

  City

  

2,118

  

-

  

2,348

  

2,018

  

-

  

2,237

  

2,005

  

-

  

2,220

  

1,764

  

-

  

1,971

  



Aberdeenshire

  

1,602

  

863

  

2,467

  

1,615

  

821

  

2,438

  

-

  

-

  

2,712

  

-

  

-

  

2,650

  



Angus

  

2,179

  

-

  

2,179

  

-

  

618

  

660

  

-

  

618

  

660

  

-

  

631

  

673

  



Argyll & 

  Bute

  

6,401

  

-

  

7,142

  

6,285

  

-

  

6,887

  

6,221

  

-

  

6,699

  

6,124

  

-

  

6,552

  



Clackmannan-shire

  

537

  

-

  

821

  

472

  

-

  

623

  

356

  

-

  

507

  

165

  

-

  

248

  



Dumfries 

  & Galloway

  

880

  

-

  

880

  

880

  

-

  

880

  

-

  

458

  

458

  

443

  

-

  

443

  



Dundee City

  

475

  

-

  

475

  

445

  

-

  

445

  

414

  

-

  

414

  

365

  

-

  

365

  



East Ayrshire

  

497

  

-

  

629

  

393

  

-

  

393

  

360

  

-

  

360

  

336

  

-

  

336

  



East Dunbartonshire

  

30

  

-

  

30

  

31

  

-

  

31

  

21

  

-

  

21

  

17

  

-

  

17

  



East Lothian

  

1,126

  

-

  

1,134

  

1,081

  

-

  

1,084

  

1,081

  

-

  

1,081

  

-

  

1,076

  

1,076

  



East Renfrewshire

  

60

  

-

  

108

  

54

  

-

  

54

  

52

  

-

  

102

  

44

  

-

  

62

  



Edinburgh, 

  City of

  

5,065

  

-

  

7,286

  

4,765

  

-

  

6,845

  

4,595

  

-

  

6,493

  

4,482

  

-

  

6,232

  



Eilean Siar

  

2,959

  

-

  

2,959

  

2,859

  

-

  

2,859

  

-

  

2,815

  

2,815

  

2,786

  

-

  

2,786

  



Falkirk

  

217

  

-

  

223

  

213

  

-

  

219

  

213

  

-

  

219

  

213

  

-

  

219

  



Fife

  

1,156

  

-

  

1,156

  

993

  

-

  

993

  

930

  

-

  

930

  

811

  

-

  

811

  



Glasgow 

  City

  

-

  

15,303

  

25,428

  

14,513

  

-

  

23,642

  

14,513

  

-

  

23,642

  

13,791

  

-

  

21,913

  



Highland

  

2,011

  

3,088

  

5,392

  

4,954

  

-

  

5,222

  

3,704

  

1,395

  

5,337

  

4,953

  

-

  

5,174

  



Inverclyde

  

2,869

  

-

  

2,999

  

2,718

  

-

  

2,813

  

2,675

  

-

  

2,880

  

2,675

  

-

  

2,880

  



Midlothian

  

5

  

-

  

5

  

2

  

-

  

2

  

2

  

-

  

2

  

9

  

-

  

9

  



Moray

  

426

  

255

  

681

  

414

  

268

  

682

  

414

  

277

  

691

  

633

  

-

  

635

  



North Ayrshire

  

-

  

2,981

  

2,981

  

2,726

  

-

  

2,726

  

2,600

  

-

  

2,600

  

2,548

  

-

  

2,548

  



North Lanarkshire

  

665

  

-

  

665

  

634

  

-

  

655

  

763

  

-

  

795

  

706

  

-

  

730

  



Orkney

  

-

  

1,509

  

1,509

  

-

  

1,509

  

1,509

  

-

  

980

  

1,026

  

976

  

-

  

1,026

  



Perth & 

  Kinross

  

2,015

  

-

  

2,038

  

1,870

  

-

  

1,888

  

1,854

  

-

  

1,854

  

1,784

  

-

  

1,784

  



Renfrewshire

  

2,850

  

-

  

6,306

  

2,850

  

-

  

6,306

  

1,009

  

-

  

1,051

  

951

  

-

  

980

  



Scottish 

  Borders, The

  

2,432

  

-

  

2,518

  

2,295

  

-

  

2,361

  

4,178

  

-

  

4,528

  

3,878

  

-

  

4,203

  



Shetland

  

-

  

515

  

515

  

-

  

469

  

469

  

-

  

446

  

446

  

-

  

432

  

432

  



South Ayrshire

  

394

  

-

  

394

  

421

  

-

  

421

  

449

  

-

  

449

  

457

  

-

  

457

  



South Lanarkshire

  

1,244

  

320

  

1,645

  

1,405

  

320

  

1,806

  

1,152

  

320

  

1,553

  

1,146

  

320

  

1,547

  



Stirling

  

559

  

-

  

559

  

538

  

-

  

538

  

536

  

-

  

536

  

535

  

-

  

535

  



West Dunbartonshire

  

-

  

528

  

528

  

-

  

528

  

528

  

229

  

-

  

446

  

199

  

-

  

450

  



West Lothian

  

25

  

19

  

48

  

25

  

19

  

48

  

25

  

19

  

48

  

25

  

19

  

48

  



  Comparisons of these estimates between local authorities and over time need to be made with considerable care. Councils use a wide range of data sources and methods to derive them. For most councils sample survey evidence is combined with information from administrative sources; the conduct and timing of the most recent surveys and the types of administrative sources used vary significantly between councils.

  The Scottish Executive has commissioned independent research into the methods used locally (by authorities) and nationally (in the SHCS) to compile estimates of the number of BTS dwellings. The aim of the research is to identify key elements of a methodology which would provide reliable and comparable estimates at both local and national level. A report of this research will be published later in the year.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to means test private sector housing grants and what impact such plans will have on progressing of communal repairs.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Housing Bill will contain provisions to reform the improvement and repairs grant system by introducing a test of resources to determine the amount of grant. This will help low-income households. The Bill will also make provision for a minimum award to be payable in certain circumstances, irrespective of household income. Common repairs will be one such case. The combined effect of these provisions will be to facilitate necessary works to buildings in common ownership.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all local authorities fulfil their statutory obligations under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and whether it is aware of any local authorities being in breach of their obligations.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Local authorities are distinct corporate bodies whose powers and duties are set out in statute. They are responsible for ensuring that they fulfil their statutory obligations, including those under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.

Illegal Money Lending

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority staff, in each local authority, in each year since 1996, had responsibilities which included dealing with illegal money lending and contraventions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, and how many such staff there were in each local authority immediately before local government re-organisation in 1996.

Mr Frank McAveety: This information is not held centrally. However, I understand that around 80 council employees throughout Scotland are likely to be involved in this area of work.

Information Technology

Elaine Thomson (Aberdeen North) (Lab): To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive plans to mark Information Age week.

Donald Dewar: The Scottish Executive strongly supports the emphasis which the UK Government is giving to information age issues this week. It is very important indeed that Scotland embraces new ways of doing business made possible by information and communication technologies. These are creating tremendous opportunities for Scottish businesses, for the Scottish education and training system, and for public services in Scotland.

  The Executive has asked the Digital Scotland Task Force to report on actions needed to ensure Scotland obtains lasting economic and social advantage from digital technologies. The Knowledge Economy Task Force is considering how Scottish businesses can seize the opportunities of e-commerce in the information age.

  On government services, the Scottish Executive committed itself in Programme for Government to make best use of information technology as a means of improving service to the public. The UK Government has today announced its decision to bring forward from 2008 to 2005 the target date for online delivery of the government services for which it is responsible. The Executive has decided to make the same commitment: all devolved government services which can feasibly be delivered online should be available by 2005. The Executive is discussing with local authority representatives how the target should apply to council services.

  Good progress is already being made in Scotland. A number of information and advisory services are already available online, and more are planned. The 2005 target represents a challenge which will encourage faster progress so that we can offer the citizens and businesses with whom we deal more efficient and effective services.

Information Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the e-envoy about improving IT literacy and, if so, what has been the outcome.

Henry McLeish: Scottish Ministers met with the e-envoy on 11 February and they discussed a range of issues relating to the knowledge economy including IT skills and training in the workforce. The Scottish Executive regards improving IT literacy as a priority and is taking this forward through a number of initiatives.

Information Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4196 by Peter Peacock on 18 February 2000, whether it will consider setting targets across the workforce for IT literacy.

Henry McLeish: We are considering the issue of adult targets within the wider context of our lifelong learning agenda. We will announce the outcome of our decisions on adult targets later this year.

Islay

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been considered in order to alleviate any problems of dairy farmers on Islay following the closure of the island’s creamery.

Mr John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive is very disappointed that the directors of the creamery found it necessary to appoint a Receiver. We have met with local farmers and consultation is now underway to remove Islay from the milk quota ringfence which will allow the island dairy farmers to lease out or transfer their quota on the mainland quota market. We recognise the serious implications of this situation for the economy of the island, and we are keeping in close touch with developments.

Islay

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to restructure the dairy industry on Islay following the closure of the Islay Creamery.

Mr John Home Robertson: I refer Mr Lyon to the answer I gave Mr Johnstone to his question S1O-1473.

Listed Buildings

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis Historic Scotland decided to designate a bunker in Kinlochleven as a listed building, what are the benefits to the community, what effects it will have on the regeneration of the Kinlochleven economy, and whether de-listing will be considered.

Rhona Brankin: The former carbon works buildings were listed at category B in 1991, at the request of the then Regional Council, because of their historic interest and importance to Scotland’s industrial heritage. The lower part of the site was cleared in 1989, but what survives constitutes a major series of buildings notable for their early (1904-09) technological innovation, particularly in the use of reinforced concrete and steel. Historic Scotland awarded grant of £456,300 towards the cost of repair of these buildings as part of a £2.4 million regeneration project in partnership with other public sector funders and the owners. As a result of this project the future of these buildings has been secured and de-listing would not be appropriate.

Local Government Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have budgeted in excess of their guideline figure for 2000-01 while simultaneously increasing council tax by more than 5%.

Mr Jack McConnell: We will not be able to provide this information until we receive the returns from local authorities which give details of their budget estimates for 2000-01.

Local Government Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why there is a variation from 1.7% to 24.8% in guideline expenditure for local authorities in excess of the figures for Grant Aided Expenditure plus Loan Charges Grant for the year 2000-01.

Mr Jack McConnell: The guideline system reflects each council’s historic spending pattern which is the reason for the variation between guideline and Grant Aided Expenditure and loan and leasing charge support. The guideline system is designed to promote gradual convergence by scaling back the annual guideline increases of those councils that spend above their GAE levels.

Lone Parents

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to fund Gingerbread Scotland.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I refer to my earlier response of 17 March to Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) on the issue of funding for Gingerbread Scotland.

MIRAS

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any assessment of the impact on social inclusion of the abolition of Mortgage Interest Relief at Source (MIRAS).

Ms Wendy Alexander: Responsibility for taxation policy, including the abolition of MIRAS, rests with Her Majesty’s Treasury. The Treasury advise that, because of current low interest rates, even after the withdrawal of MIRAS, the average monthly mortgage will cost £300 a month less than it did when interest rates were at their peak in the early 1990s.

  The Scottish Executive have no plans to carry out any additional assessment.

National Health Service

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the First Minister how many full time equivalent nurses and doctors were employed in the NHS in Scotland in each of the last three years.

Donald Dewar: There were 630 more doctors working in the NHS in Scotland last year than in 1997. And there were 300 more nurses. We said we would increase the numbers of doctors and nurses and we have done.

Poverty

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are living in poverty in Scotland.

Jackie Baillie: Poverty is not only about income, but also about health, environment, and opportunity in its widest sense. As a result, there is no single measure of poverty.

  In Social Justice: a Scotland where everyone matters we set out a wide range of indicators for measuring the impact of action tackling poverty and social exclusion - the current data in relation to these measures is set out in the companion document on sources and definitions. We will report on progress later this year in our first Annual Social Justice Report.

Renewable Energy

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it makes available to help companies set up renewable energy schemes.

Sarah Boyack: In February I announced to Parliament that I was consulting on a Renewables (Scotland) Obligation to increase by a further 5% the already considerable use of renewable energy in Scotland. This obligation, which would be placed on all electricity suppliers in Scotland, would be designed to stimulate further development of renewable energy in Scotland, but would not include direct financial assistance for developers of renewable energy projects.

Residential Homes

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1334 by Iain Gray on 11 October 1999, when the report from the Controller of Audit will be available.

Iain Gray: I understand that staff of the Controller of Audit’s office have requested further information from the Council to assist their investigation and that they are currently unable to predict a probable reporting date.

Rural Affairs

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the involvement of United Auctions plc in relation to the continued operation of the Ben Nevis Auctions supported by the local farmers and crofters.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has no plans to investigate any such business relationships.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish schools currently have connections to the Internet.

Peter Peacock: The Annual Survey of Information and Communications Technology, carried out across a sample of Scottish schools in October 1999, showed that 49% of primary schools and 97% of secondary schools had Internet connections. The number of schools connecting or connected is developing rapidly.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in connecting all Scottish schools to the Internet.

Peter Peacock: Between May 1998 and October 1999 the percentage of Scottish primary schools with Internet access rose from 22% to 49%, and the percentage of Scottish secondary schools with Internet access rose from 73% to 97%.

Seal Population

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is for the grey and common seal population (a) over each of the last 30 years and (b) each of the next 30 years.

Mr John Home Robertson: The estimates of grey seal populations in Scottish waters from 1984-98 shown in the table below are based on annual surveys of breeding colonies in the Outer Hebrides, Inner Hebrides, Orkney, the Isle of May and two English sites. The Scottish population figures have been arrived at by deducting the proportion of the population related to the two English sites. They are a consistent series calculated from a model that derives estimates of pup production from aerial survey counts and a model that estimates the size of the population required to produce these pups. An estimated additional 8,900 animals are associated with breeding sites that are not surveyed annually.

  Pup surveys prior to 1984 did not include the Inner Hebrides. For these years, in the table below, the population estimates given are the product of the pup production estimate for the surveyed areas and the mean ratio of total population to pup production for these same areas from 1984 to 1998.

  


Year

  

Estimated 

  Scottish Population to the nearest 500 animals (aged 1 year 

  and over)

  

Year

  

Estimated 

  Scottish population to the nearest 500 animals (aged 1 year 

  and over)

  



1970

  

29,000

  

1986

  

  47,500

  



1971-73

  

No 

  Surveys

  

1987

  

  50,500

  



1974

  

  32,000

  

1988

  

  54,500

  



1975

  

  34,000

  

1989

  

  58,000

  



1976

  

  35,500

  

1990

  

  61,500

  



1977

  

No 

  Survey

  

1991

  

  65,000

  



1978

  

  33,500

  

1992

  

  69,000

  



1979

  

  36,500

  

1993

  

  73,500

  



1980

  

  42,500

  

1994

  

  78,500

  



1981

  

  44,000

  

1995

  

  83,500

  



1982

  

  44,000

  

1996

  

  89,500

  



1983

  

No 

  Survey

  

1997

  

  95,000

  



1984

  

  41,500

  

1998

  

101,500

  



1985

  

  44,500

  



  Predictions about future population size are very difficult to make and are dependent on a number of assumptions. Two alternative predictions for grey seal numbers over the next five years are contained in the report Scientific Advice on Matters Related to the Management of Seal Populations: 1999, a copy of which is held in SPICe. Because of uncertainty about future changes in pup production, it is not meaningful to predict population size any further into the future than this.

  Surveys of common seals between 1974 and 1980 were carried out from boats during the breeding season (June/July). Surveys since 1988 were by helicopter using a thermal imaging camera and were carried out during the August moult when the greatest and most consistent numbers of seals are thought to haul out. The numbers in the table below are counts of seals hauled out on land and represent minimum estimates of the population. A significant proportion of common seals will be at sea even during this period and it is therefore much more difficult to be precise about the total population based on these minimum figures.

  


Year

  



1974-1980 

  (Boat survey)

  

1988-1994 

  (Helicopter)

  

1996-1997 

  (Helicopter)

  



Adults

  

Pups

  

Adults

  

Adults

  



9,328

  

1,495

  

26,667

  

29,600

  



  The increases between boat and helicopter survey results are partly due to the extension of the area surveyed by helicopter (successive surveys have covered larger areas), partly due to the change in methodology (up to twice as many seals may be detected when surveying by helicopter compared with boats), partly due to the different timing of surveys (seals spend more time hauled out during the August moult than during the June/July breeding season), and presumably also partly as a result of the cessation of harvesting, particularly in Shetland and Orkney. At present, we cannot say how the trend in numbers counted at haul-out sites relates to trends in population size.

  The total Scottish population cannot be estimated accurately but is currently thought to be between 43,000-52,000 animals. There is insufficient information to allow future predictions of numbers of common seals to be made.

Sex Offenders

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to reduce the incidence of convicted paedophiles re-offending.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is committed to taking measures to ensure that the risk posed to communities from convicted paedophiles is minimised.

  A number of steps have already been taken. Notably, the Sex Offenders Act 1997 requires certain sex offenders to register with the police, who, with other agencies, will take steps to assess and manage the risk posed. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 allows the police to apply for Sex Offender Orders against certain sex offenders whose behaviour gives cause for concern that the public is at risk of serious harm. The Act also allows courts to impose an additional period of supervision by social workers after release from prison on licence when it is necessary to protect the public from serious harm.

  The 1997 report by the Chief Inspector of Social Work A Commitment to Protect contained proposals for more effective practice in the monitoring and the supervision of sex offenders. The wide ranging recommendations of the report are being taken forward by the Expert Panel on Sex Offending under the Chairmanship of Lady Cosgrove which is due to report in 2001.

  Local Authorities who are responsible for statutory supervision of sex offenders in the community provide criminal justice social work services which are set firmly in the context of enhancing community safety and minimising the risk from offenders, including sex offenders. They work to National Objectives and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System in delivering these services.

  Local authority initiatives such as the Fife Council community protection team Change Programme and the Tay Project are aimed at addressing the offending behaviour of adult sex offenders. The Scottish Prison Service provides programmes to tackle sex offending behaviour.

Social Exclusion

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken and proposes to take to tackle social exclusion in Kinlochleven, particularly in relation to the incidence of nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Measures to tackle neighbour nuisance and anti-social behaviour were introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, including Anti-social Behaviour Orders, new grounds for eviction for anti-social behaviour and additional powers for the police to seize noise-making equipment. Detailed guidance was issued to local authorities. The Executive’s discussion paper, Housing and Anti-social Behaviour – The Way Ahead , published in December 1999, sets out the Executive’s proposals for legislative and non-legislative action to tackle nuisance and anti-social behaviour. Comments on that paper are currently being analysed.

Stalking

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in tackling stalking.

Mr Jim Wallace: On 23 March the Scottish Executive published a consultation paper inviting comments on current law and practice in relation to harassment and stalking. The consultation period ends on 9 June. Thereafter the Executive will report its findings and its recommendations to the Scottish Parliament.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times and on what dates (a) Ministers and (b) officials met members of Midlothian Council to discuss formally their proposals for the realignment of the A701.

Sarah Boyack: The Minister for Transport and the Environment, together with officials, met members of Midlothian Council on 1 February 2000 to discuss various transport issues in Midlothian. No formal meetings took place with officials in relation to the Notice of Intention to Develop.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it advertised its decision not to call in Midlothian Council’s proposals for the A701 realignment and, if so, on what date and where.

Sarah Boyack: The decision was not advertised as there is no statutory requirement to do so.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considered Midlothian Council’s proposals for the A701 as a Private Finance Initiative project whilst determining whether the proposals required a public inquiry.

Sarah Boyack: How the proposals were to be financed was not a material consideration in making a decision on the Notice of Intention to Develop.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what details it was given of Midlothian Council’s plans to finance its proposals for the A701 whilst it considered the case for calling a public inquiry.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive did not receive, as part of the Notice of Intention to Develop, any details of Midlothian Council’s plans to finance their A701 proposals.

Transport

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline any changes in the proposals for the A701 between the project as presented at the planning application stage and the notice of intention to develop considered by it and the project as approved for development.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive does not have details of documents presented to the public at stages prior to their submission to the Scottish Ministers.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any studies have been carried out as to the effect on local traders of bus corridors.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive recently commissioned a research project entitled A Comparative Evaluation of Greenways and Conventional Bus Lanes . This research focuses on bus corridors in Edinburgh and includes a section on Business Frontage Interviews. The project was concluded recently and its findings should be published later in the spring. A copy will be placed in SPICe.

  I understand that Glasgow City Council have carried out studies on the effect of bus lanes on the Victoria Road/Gorbals Street bus corridor. This involved a survey of public opinion and before and after surveys of retail unit occupancy.

Warm Deal

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4863 by Mr Frank McAveety on 15 March 2000, whether it will conduct a review of the Warm Deal which will examine (a) grant levels, (b) the type of work for which grants are available and (c) how to maximise and broaden the uptake of Warm Deal grants.

Mr Frank McAveety: There are no present plans for a review.

Whisky

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission and Her Majesty's Treasury about the implications of reform of the Common Agricultural Policy for the future of whisky industry employment in Scotland, particularly in rural areas.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government and the European Commission on a wide range of issues including implications of reform of the Common Agricultural Policy for the future of whisky industry employment in Scotland. The Minister for Rural Affairs represented Scotland’s interests at the Agriculture Council meeting on 20 and 21 March, the details of which are covered in his reply to question S1W-5703.